RECOGNIZING DIRECT OBJECTS

RECOGNIZING DIRECT OBJECTS A direct object is the noun or pronoun that receives the action of a verb. Direct objects follow action verbs and complete the meaning of a sentence by answering the questions What? or Whom? Look at these examples:

Ginny found a ring. subject verb direct object Tom helped Ms. Springer. subject verb direct object A sentence may have more than one direct object. Look at this example of a compound direct object: The farmer planted beets and tomatoes. subject verb compound direct object

DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN DIRECT OBJECTS, ADVERBS, AND OBJECTS OF PREPOSITIONS A direct object is never an adverb or the noun or pronoun at the end of a prepositional phrase. Sometimes action verbs are followed by direct objects, adverbs, or prepositional phrases. Sentences can also contain more than one of these parts. Compare these examples.

Sentence Pattern subject/verb/direct object subject/verb/adverb subject/verb/prepositional phrase subject/verb/direct object/adverb/ prepositional

Example Martina grilled the fish. Martina grilled quickly. Martina grilled on the patio. Martina grilled the fish quickly on the patio.

FINDING DIRECT OBJECTS IN QUESTIONS A direct object in a question will sometimes be found before the verb. In most statements, the direct object follows the verb. However, in a question, the direct object often appears before the verb and subject. To find a direct object in a question, you can try rewording it as a statement. Look at these examples:

Question

Worded as a Statement

Whose laptop did you borrow for the presentation? You borrowed whose laptop for the presentation.

Which room should we paint next?

We should paint which room .next

What do mountain lions eat?

Mountain lions do eat what.

RECOGNIZING INDIRECT OBJECTS An indirect object is a noun or pronoun that comes after an action verb and before a direct object. It names the person or thing to which something is given or for which something is done. Some sentences with direct objects also have indirect objects. An indirect object almost always comes after the verb and before the direct object. Indirect objects answer the question To/for what? or To/for whom? Look at these examples:

Sentence

Question to Ask and Sentence Part

Talia offered Martha water. Offered what? water (direct object) Offered water to whom? Martha (indirect

Dad gave the chairs a wash. Gave what? wash (direct object) Gave a wash to what? chairs (indirect object)

DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN INDIRECT OBJECTS AND OBJECTS OF PREPOSITIONS

An indirect object never follows the preposition to or for in a sentence. Compare these examples of sentences that have an indirect object or an object of a preposition:

Sentence She showed Mom her report card.

She showed her report card to Mom.

Sentence Part

Mom is an indirect object. Mom comes after the action verb showed Mom is an object of a preposition. Mom comes after the preposition

SUBJECT COMPLEMENTS A subject complement is a noun, pronoun, or adjective that follows a linking verb and provides important details about the subject. A sentence with a linking verb can have one of two kinds of subject complement:

? A predicate noun renames or identifies the subject of the sentence: George Washington Carver was an inventor.

? A predicate adjective follows a linking verb. It describes the subject of the sentence: George Washington Carver was creative.

? A comparative predicate adjective compares two things and uses -er or more: Janet is taller than Michelle.

? A superlative predicate adjective compares three or more things and uses -est or most: Janet is the tallest girl in her class.

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